DUSHANBE, July 30, 2009, Asia-Plus — Today’s trilateral meeting of the presidents of Afghanistan (Hamid Karzai), Pakistan (Asif Ali Zardari) and Tajikistan (Emomali Rahmon) has been followed by an enlarged meeting with participation of the government delegations of the tree countries.
The leaders of the tree countries signed a joint statement on trilateral cooperation.
Speaking to reporters after meeting, President Rahmon expressed satisfaction with the results of the meeting. According to him, they considered issues related to expansion of trade and economic cooperation between the countries, creation of favorable conditions for businesses, etc.
Besides, the sides deliberated on the ways and means to promote regional and trans-regional cooperation to tackle terrorism and drug trafficking problems. The presidents discussed the issues of security in the region, in particular, in Afghanistan and considered it necessary to combine efforts in this direction.
Tajik leader noted that they had also discussed Tajikistan’s initiative to set up regional anti-drug center and heads of Afghanistan and Pakistan had supported that initiative.
Emomali Rahmon added that cooperation in construction of highways and railroads as well as implementation of energy projects had been outlined as areas of cooperation.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who is expected to arrive in Dushanbe today at 3:00 pm, will join the presidents of Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan in discussion of regional cooperation issues.
In the meantime, The Pakistan Times cited Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi as saying in Dushanbe on Tuesday, “The leaders of these four countries will deliberate on the ways and means to promote regional and trans-regional cooperation to tackle the challenges of terrorism, drug trafficking, illicit weapons etc. as well as for strengthening the trade and economic cooperation for mutual benefit of their people.”
